Centrifugal pump impeller



Nov. 11, 1941. R B P OR 2,262,039

CENTRIF'UGAL PUMP I IMPELLER Filed Nov. 1, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 11, 1941.

R. B. PEKOR CENTRIFUGAL PUMP IMPELLE-R 2 Sheets-Sheeb 2 Filed Nov. 1, 1940 Patented Nov. 11, 1941 I UNITED STATES PATENT O-FF1E CENTRIFUGAL PUMP IlVIPELLER Richard B. Pekor, Columbus, Ga.

Application November 1, 1940, Serial No. 363,938

(Cl. 103F115 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a centrifugal pump impeller designed primarily for use in connection with the pumping of sand and gravel, but it is to be understood that a centrifugal impeller in accordance with this invention is for employment for any purpose for which it may be found applicable.

It is well known that centrifugal pump impellers employed in the pumping of sand and gravel are subjected to rapid wear, caused by the abrasiveness of the material being pumped resulting in the rapid impairment of the impeller to an extent to make the pump useless and under such conditions a new impeller is required to be substituted and which materially increases the cost of maintenance. It is the aim of this invention to reduce the cost of pump maintenance and to this end the invention consists in providing an impeller which will give to the operator of the pump the benefit of longer wear without the high costs that always accompanies the purchase of a new pump impeller made of manganese steel and other abrasive-resistant alloys,

Inasmuch as the arms of the impeller are subjected to most of the abrasive wear when sand or gravel is pumped, the impeller in accordance with my invention aims to permit the use of renewable blades or arms of manganese steel, chilled grey iron, as well as blades of any other desirable metal alloy or rubber to thereby increase the life of the impeller.

The invention further aims-to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a centrifugal pump impeller including removable blades whereby when one blade has become impaired a new one may be substituted without discarding the non-impaired part of the impeller.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a centrifugal pump impeller which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efiicient in its use, expeditiously repaired when occasion requires, readily assembled, materially reducing the upkeep thereof, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a sand or gravel pump having correlated therewith a centrifugal impeller, in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a section on line 22, Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an elevation looking towards the inner face of that side check of the impeller attached to the drive shaft,

Figure 4 is an elevation looking towards the inner face of that side cheek of the impeller on the intake side of the latter,

Figure 5 is a transverse section of the impeller taken substantially on line 5--5, Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6, Figure 1, and

Figure 7 is a side view of the form of the removable blade.

With reference to the drawings, the casing of a centrifugal pump is indicated at In and it will be of the well known sectional type formed with an impeller chamber having an axially arranged intake and a tangentially disposed outlet. The casing I0 is formed of a pair of oppositely disposed cup-shaped flanged sections ll, I2 secured together by the hold-fast means IZ The said casing I0 may be of the form as that shown by Patent No. 2,110,079. The impeller chamber provided by the casing I0 is indicated at It. The section II is formed with an offset portion I4 provided with an axial opening l5 and an outwardly directed sleeve I6 surrounding at its inner end and spaced from the opening 15. The drive shaft I! for the impeller, to be referred to, extends through the opening I 5 and it is fixed to the impeller. The shaft ll passes through a flanged packing gland I8 and a packing 19 within the sleeve IS. The gland l8 has threaded engagement with the inner face of the sleeve 16 and bears against the packing IS. The shaft H is operated from any suitable source. The offset portion l4 forms the inner face of section I l with a circular pocket 20 having its base 2| constituting an abutment and its circular wall 22 a bearing for the impeller. The section l2 axially thereof is formed with an enlarged opening 23 with which communicates a flanged intake pipe 24 secured to said section I l by the countersunk holdfast means 25.

The impeller, generally indicated at 2B, is arranged in chamber l3 and it is in the form of a circular revoluble sectional structure formed at one side with an opening 21 and an intake chemher 28 into which the inner end of opening 21 communicates. The outer end of opening 21 registers with the opening 23.

The impeller 26 includes a pair of spaced parallel side cheeks 29, 30 and a row of spaced blades 3| of like form and substantially of arcuate contour,

The cheek 29 is in the form of a circular disc 32 having an axial opening 33. The outer face of the disc 32 is formed with a pair of outwardly directed annular coaxially arranged ribs 34, 35. The rib 34 extends into the pocket 26 and bears against the base 2| and wall 22 of said pocket. The rib 35 extends into the pocket 20 and bears against the base 2| of the latter. The rib 35 forms an outward continuation of the wall of opening 33 and has its inner face aligned with the wall of opening l5. The inner face of the cheek 29 has formed integral therewith a frusto-tapered extension 36 provided with an axial opening 31 forming an inward continuation of the opening 33. The outer end of the extension 36 is aligned with respectto the outer edge of rib 34. The

inner terminal portion of the shaft I! is keyed to the walls of the openings 33, 31 and to the inner face of rib 35. The extension 36 is formed with a plurality of arcuate grooves 38 four in number. The extension 36 constitutes the hub of the impeller. 1

The side cheek 29 has formed integral with the inner face thereof a series of heavy chilled spaced fillets 39 of arcuate contour running from the top of the hub out to a feather disposed at the outer edge of said cheek. Each fillet gradually increases in width from the inner to its outer end. The purpose of the fillets 39 is to reinforce the side cheek 29 at the center where the heaviest impact of the sand is received, and thus resist the abrasive action of the sand much longer than otherwise would be the case if the said fillets were not employed. The fillets 59 also form fiush continuations of the blades 3|, to be more fully referred to, and also to provide means for centering the blades 3|, as these latter are positioned against the fillets.

The side cheek 30 is in the form of a circular disk 49 formed with the opening 27. There is formed integral with the inner face of the disk 49 a series of spaced chilled fillets 4| of arcuate contour and of the same contour as the fillets 39. The fillets 4| run from the edge of opening 27 to a feather disposed at the outer edge of cheek 30. The fillets 4| are not as thick as the fillets 39. When the side cheeks 29, 3|] are connected together the fillets 39 align with the fillets 4|. These latter reinforce the side cheek 36 and form flush continuations of the blades 3|.

The fillets 4| are of less width than the fillets 39..

Each blade 3| may be formed of manganese steel, chilled grey iron, any desirable metal alloy or rubber, preferably of manganesesteel due to its durability. It will be removably secured within the impeller whereby when it becomes impaired it may be conveniently removedand a new one substituted. By this arrangement the non-impaired part of the impeller may still be used. The blades 3| are of like form, each consists of a body part 42 and an extension 43 at the inner end of the latter. The body part 42 is of greater width than the extension and one side thereof is outwardly beveled, as at 44. The body part 42 of the blade 3| isto be positioned between and abut a pair of aligned fillets 39, 4|. The extension 43 of the blade is to extend into a slot 38 formed in the hub or extension 36. The

inner end of the body part 42 of each blade is arranged against the hub or extension 36. That face of the body part 42 which abuts a fillet 39 corresponds in contour and width to that of the fillet. That face of the body part 42 which abuts a fillet 4| corresponds in contour and width to that of the fillet 4|. The body part 42 is of materially greater thickness than that of the fillets 39, 4|. 'Ihebody part 42 has its side edges and its end edge flush with the side and end edges of the fillets between which it is arranged.

The body part 42 of each blade 36 is detachably secured to the side check 29 and for such purpose the body part 42 is formed with a row of spaced threaded openings 46, each fillet 39 is formed with a row of spaced openings 41 which align with one end of the openings 46 in a body part, and the side cheek 29 is formed with sets of rows of spaced openings 48 and with the openings of a row 48 registering with the openings 41 in a fillet 39. Each opening 48 is of greater diameter than an opening 41. Extending through the openings 48 and 41 and threadedly engaging with a part of the length of the openings 46 are threaded bolts 49 whereby the side cheek 29, fillets 39 and blades 36 are detachably together. The bolts 49 are of a length as to have their shank extend into less than half the length of the openings 46. The heads of the bolts 49 are seated in the openings 48.

The body part 42 of each blade 36 is also detachably secured to the side cheek 30 and for such purpose each fillet 4| is formed with a row of spaced openings 56 which register with the other end of the openings 46 in a body part. The side cheek 4| is formed with sets of spaced rows of spaced openings 5| and with the openings 5| of a row registering with the openings 56 in a fillet 4|. Each opening 5| is of greater diameter than an opening 59. Extending through the openings 5|, 59 and threadedly engaging with another part of the length of the openings 46 are threaded bolts 52 whereby the side cheek 30, fillets 39 and blades 36 are detachably connected together. The bolts 52 correspond in length to the bolts 49. The heads of the bolts 52 are seated in the openings 5|.

The manner of securing the elements of the impeller together permits of the removing of an impaired blade Without dismantling the entire impeller as the bolts employed for securing one blade in'position may be disconnected from the impeller and such blade may be removed, when it becomes impaired without the necessity. of removing any one of the other blades.

The impeller is designed primarily for conveying a liquid containing sand under suspension, but it is to be understood that it is to be employed, such by way of example as conveying a liquid containing other abrasive materials in suspension.

The hub owing to its contour provides also what may be termed a spreader for the material on the intake of the latter to the pump.

What I claim is: I

1. In a centrifugal impeller, a side cheek of circular form provided axially thereof with a hub for connection to a drive shaft, a series of spaced fillets of arcuate form integral with the inner face of'said cheek, a second side cheek of circular form having an axially arranged intake and disposed in spacedialignmen't relative to said other cheek, a series of spaced fillets of arcuate form integral withthe inner face of the second cheek and disposed in spaced alignment with the fillets on the first check, a blade of arcuate form arranged between each pair of aligned fillets, and independent means for removably connecting each blade to a pair of aligned fillets and to said cheeks.

2. In a centrifugal impeller, a side cheek of circular form provided axially thereof with ahub for connection to a drive shaft, a series of spaced fillets of arcuate form integral with the inner face of said cheek, a second side check of circular form having an axially arranged intake and disposed in spaced alignment relative to said other check, a series of spaced fillets of arcuate form integral with the inner face of the second cheek and disposed in spaced alignment with the fillets on the first cheek, a blade of arcuate form arranged between each pair of aligned fillets, and independent means for removably connecting each blade to a pair of aligned fillets and to said cheeks, the fillets on the first cheek being of greater thickness and greater width than the fillets on the second cheek, said blades being of greater thickness than any one of the fillets and each blade gradually decreasing in width from a fillet on the second cheek to the fillet on the first check.

3. In a centrifugal impeller, a pair of spaced aligned side cheeks one being formed with a hub extending inwardly from its inner face for connection to a drive shaft and with spaced fillets of arcuate contour on said face, said hub being formed with spaced grooves, said fillets having their inner ends aligned with the baseof said grooves, the other of said cheeks provided with an axially disposed intake opening and a series of spaced fillets of arcuate form on its inner face extending outwardly from said opening, the fillets on one cheek aligning with the fillets on the other cheek, a blade of arcuate contour positioned between each pair of aligned fillets, means for detachably securing one side cheek, a fillet on the latter and a blade together, and means for detachably securing the other side check, a fillet on the latter and such blade together.

4. In a centrifugal impeller a pair of side r cheeks one provided with means axially thereof for connection to a drive shaft and the other having an axial opening constituting an intake, said cheeks each provided on its inner face with spaced integral curved fillets, the outer faces of .1?-

the fillets on one check lengthwise aligning with the outer faces of the fillets on the other cheek, curved blades arranged between and bearing against the aligned faces of the fillets on said cheeks, and independent means for removably connecting each blade to the cheeks.

5. In a centrifugal impeller a pair of side cheeks one provided with means axially thereof for connection to a drive shaft and the other having an axial opening constituting an intake, said cheeks each provided on its inner face with spaced integral curved fillets, the outer faces of the fillets on said cheeks, spaced fillets on the inner faces of said cheeks bearing against opposite faces of said blades for spacing the latter from said cheeks, said fillets forming edgewise continuations of the blades, and oppositely disposed means extending through said cheeks and fillets and engaging in said blades for removably securing the blades to and between the cheeks.

7. In a centrifugal impeller, a pair of aligned spaced side cheeks for bodily revolving in unison, a set of spaced curved blades arranged between said cheeks, spaced fillets on the inner faces of said cheeks bearing against opposite faces of said blades for spacing the latter from said cheeks, said fillets forming edgewise continuations of the blades, and means extending through said cheeks and fillets and engaging in said blades for removably securing the blades to and between the cheeks, one of said cheeks being formed axially thereof with an inwardly extended frusto-tapered hub for connection to a drive-shaft and provided with spaced grooves, the fillets on said one cheek extending from said hub to the outer edge of the check, the other of said cheeks being formed with an axial opening constituting an intake, the fillets on that cheek formed with the intake extending from the edge of said opening to the outer edge of such check, each blade including a body part corresponding in length to its correlated fillets and an extension at its inner end extended into a groove in the hub.

8. In a centrifugal impeller, a pair of aligned spaced side cheeks for bodily revolving in unison, a set of spaced curved blades arranged between said cheeks, spaced fillets on the inner faces of said cheeks bearing against opposite faces of said blades for spacing the latter fromsaid cheeks, said fillets forming edgewise continuations of the blades, means extending through said cheeks and fillets and engaging in said blades for removably securing the blades to and between the cheeks,

each of said fillets gradually increasing in Width from its inner to its outer face, the width of the fillets on one cheek being greater throughout than the fillets on the other cheek, each of said blades including a body part corresponding in length to that of the fillets, and said body parts having one face corresponding in width to the fillets on one cheek and their other face corresponding in width to the fillets on the other of said cheeks.

RICHARD B. PEKOR. 

